Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-02-10
IN THE MIDDLE WEST
A Story OF Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.
BY ALvA MILTON KERR
IcoPYRIoHT. issG ny THE A. n. KELLOGG
NEWSPAPER CoMPANY.l
CHAPTER xIv.-ooSrrssro

=
sinsing in a great fire at the far-olr end
ef the valley through which the river
Went into the west and flooding the
long many-colored hollow with a mel
low lovely light While he was look
ing at this, a girl riding a milk-white
pony camo around one Of the valleys
1exures following the gray road to-
ward the town with the rosy light about
her much as If she had ridden out Of
the sunset When she came nearer he
saw that 1t was Maun Woolman. As
she passed in an easy cantcr. uncon-
scious Of the silent watcher above her,
he saw how she sat her horse in kind
of willowy ease with long and taper
ing waist and dark face rich with
color.
He turned TO follow her with his eve
when she had passed. and saw almost
with surprise the silent book-keeper
coming quietly along the road toward
the sunset. He was looking at the
ground as he walked. and when he
looked up and saw the girl he gave
start, but took of his hat and bowed
politely as she passed him with
smile and salute from her riding
whip. When he came by below John
Earling he seemed flushed and was
muttering something TO himself.
Then he stopped and watched the girl
until she had gone out OF sight, and
turned and walked muttering on into
the gathering shadows.
-$rJohn Barling's retrospective and in
Prospective mood being thus broken
into, his practically returned as he
went toward the town, aud the check
as factor in his fortunes began To-
orb about in his mind He was not
won't to be long in making a decision
on any head, his aim seeming so abso-
lutte and clear, but this question srrik-
ing his mind Immediately divided into
two feasible and about equally allur-
ing halves. Should he spend IL in go-
ing away 10 schoolP or hoard it until,
being admitted TO practice in the
courts, he should need II TO fit M an
Office and get himself a library? He
, picked on the latter course, and wisely
perhaps. much as he desired the other,
for only those who have gone over the
cruel road know how thorny the pro-
fcssional way is when entered without
a penny. His mind, too, was not bad
ly equipped, since, with n keen dispo-
sition to master the eXpansc, he had
read himself with a retentive hold in
every direction over the sea of litera-
lure. and had filled AL the interslices
and little crannies of his time with OBJ
seryation and study. Indeed, he had
como to be better educated in the
primary sense perhaps. through the
happy union Of inclination and neces-
sity. than thousands dawdling away a
quarter Of century Of school.
When he came 10 the Office Of Bower
d WoOdman the law partners had
gone home, and he lii the gas without
thinking Of his supper and went 10
work. When the bg clock over in
the courthouse dome droned out the
hour of eleven he went through the
delicate star light 10 his humble lodg-
ings In the outskirt of the town with
his hat in his hand. cooling his forehead
against the soft night wind. On the
morrow he had himself a sleeping-roOm
lifted up at the top Of the brick block
In which the Office II Bower a. Wood
man lay and through the next two
years was well nigh as little seen in
public places aA .he still bOok-keeper
lie got forward In the law at some
thing Ike an amazing pace, so old
WoOdman often said in substance to
the judge, following the statement
when his partner was not looking, with
one OF mis- "hair" pantomimcs.
Occasionally, at the Judge invitation,
John Earling would 90 home with MIN
20 tea, and give himself an hour
or two OF recreation by talking with
Mrs. Bower or sitting In the swing
under the cool trees. But the elder
lawyer OF the firm, for all his grim
and curious admiration Of the youth.
WAS chary of his courtesies. Hc never
invited him 20 his house, nor indeed
any young people, but had an alert
md bfusque sort Of kildness for him
which John Earling found pleasant
and nnfailing Undor the glise of ex-
planning some point he would talk TO the
young man by the hour when Judge
Hover was out giving him history Of
cases Ia his own experience. and eluci-
dating intricate passages and situations
IN law. John Earing. with his head
bent down little, would fastcn his
clcar eyes upon the amber-c0lored orbs
that looked out from under the old
lawyers shaggy hrows. and follow his
thought until their minds seemed some
times one Often the old lawyer would
step and says "Now you have the sit
uatlon. following This lina OF action.
how Nunld you come outP" And when
hla young auditor sometimes OWNED
NE oulcome which often could hardly
~ found with any tlinS short Of mspl.
ration. tho old nil0rnoV would slap hls
leR Win lnnnlle relish aed exclaim'